Four
*~*~*~*
"You ready?" I asked Clary when I found her out in the main area, talking with Simon. She only gave a small nod, though I could see the doubt clouding her features.
"Let's get out of here." Simon said, gesturing between the three of us. "Just the three of us. We can get Dot ourselves."
"Simon, there are demons out there, okay?" Clary reminded him. "Actual demons with tentacles that wanna murder us. Do you know how to kill a demon?"
"I'm an internet search away." He shrugged before glancing at me. "Besides, doesn't Cici know how to do that stuff?"
"He's got a point." I admitted, liking the idea of slipping off from the Institute, getting away from the others once again.
"Simon, I don't think it's that simple." Clary shook her head, ignoring my comment.
"I bet you it's not that hard." He countered as Jace and Isabelle joined us. We all followed them over to where Isabelle opened a shelf that held several different seraph blades.
"No, Izzy." Jace slapped Isabelle's hand away from them.
"Fifty bucks says he doesn't approve this mission." Isabelle bet as she saw our brother heading towards us.
"Now that's just not a fair bet." I said, remembering how strict Alec could be about the rules. How strict I had once been as well.
"I don't approve of this mission." Alec told all of us. "I spoke with the Clave. They're sending Seelie scouts to search for Valentine, but they made it clear, the little girl does not leave the premises."
"Hey, my name is not "little girl", okay?" Clary glared at him. "I don't care what that Clave thing or you want, I'm going to find Dot."
"I'm going with her." I backed up my friend, earning a sharp look from Alec.
"Alec, this warlock could have the answers we need." Jace pointed out. "With Valentine's people out there searching for Clary, she's not safe outside alone."
"Jace has a point." Isabelle nodded, earning the same look from Alec that I had. He looked around at all of us for a moment before a sigh escaped him, his gaze settling on Clary.
"All right, since you have all the answers, where do you suggest we search?" Alec questioned her.
"We should start at Dot's apartment in Greenpoint, and there's this thrift store that she..." Clary gasped, cutting herself off as she stared at nothing for a moment.
"Clary?" I looked at my friend, worried as I softly placed a hand on her shoulder, seeming to snap her out of whatever trance she'd fallen into.
"What's wrong? What is it?" Jace asked her.
"I, um..." Clary shook her head. "Weirdly, I think I know where Dot is."
"Great. I'll drive." Simon volunteered, causing us all to look at him. "What? Unless you have, like, a Shadowhunter-mobile or something." None of us said a word as we just continued to look at him, making his glance nervously at Jace. "You were kidding about the runes on the floor killing me... right?"
"Possibly." Jace shrugged, teasing him as we all headed towards the door.
"Wait, am I gonna die?" Simon asked as he hurried after all of us.
*~*~*~*
"Dot." Clary whispered as she led all of us down an alley, her eyes widening before she took off running. "Dot!"
"Clary!" Jace called after her as we all picked up our paces, trying to keep up with her. "Clary, stop! Where are you going?"
"Two men, Circle members, the same ones who came to my house, who took my mom. They have Dot." Clary told all of us when she finally stopped running, looking around the dark alley. I frowned at her words, knowing that if Valentine had Dot that she was in more danger than we had originally thought. Jocelyn and Luke had told me about Valentine before, how dangerous he was- is. I met Clary's teary gaze as she spoke up again, looking right at me. "They're gonna hurt her or kill her. We have to stop them!"
She took off running again, inside the building in front of us, the club we had been at just the other night, Pandemonium. Unlike the other night, the club was empty, no music pulsing through the air or large crowds. It looked at though it had been abandoned.
"She was just trying to help us." Clary looked back at me. "Now, she's gone."
"Clary, I'm sorry." Simon apologized to our friend as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, trying to provide her with some small sense of comfort.
"You don't understand." Clary shook her head.
"Dot's like a big sister." I whispered.
"It's not safe here." Alec walked over to us, glancing at me as I held Clary. "We have to go back to the Institute right now."
"So, what now?" Clary asked as she shrugged my arms off of her. "Valentine has my mom and Dot, we're just gonna give up? What about my memories? They can't just be gone?"
"There is another option." Jace told her.
"Don't even," Alec began to shake his head, knowing where Jace was going with this. "Absolutely not."
"I'm not afraid of the Silent Brothers." Jace said.
"Who are the Silent Brothers?" Clary asked.
"They're Shadowhunters with superior powers." I told her.
"Who possess the ability to recover memories." Isabelle shared the most important part with her.
"A process that can also kill you, so there's that." Alec pointed out.
"Your bedside manner is abysmal." Simon scoffed at him.
"We've broken at least eighteen Clave rules and now you want to go to the City of Bones?" Alec narrowed his eyes at Jace. "There's no way. I won't allow it."
"This isn't our choice to make." Jace glanced back at Clary. "This is Clary's decision."
"You can't ask her to do this." Isabelle shook her head, just as eager to go through with this plan as Alec was. "She doesn't know what she's facing. She's not prepared."
"If anyone can tell me another way to recover my memories and still get the answers we need, I'm listening." Clary cut in, making the decision herself. She glanced around at all of us, as though expecting us to try and argue with her, convince her not to do this. None of us spoke up though. "That settle's it."
"See? I told you she's one of us." Jace patted Alec on the shoulder as we all headed back out of the empty club.
*~*~*~*
"Yeah, this place isn't creepy." Simon's words were laced with sarcasm once we all reached the City of Bones, standing outside the city's entrance. "Not at all."
"Don't tell me you're afraid." Isabelle chuckled at his obvious fear.
"Are you kidding me?" Simon scoffed. "I was born afraid... which sounded a lot better in my head."
"Let's check it out." Alec led the way forward, but when Simon and Clary went to follow us, Jace stopped them.
"Wait here a minute. I wanna see if it's safe." Jace told them, mainly Clary, before he walked away, joining Alec, Isabelle, and I where we were looking around a few yards ahead.
"Hey," Alec looked at Jace as we all gathered together, speaking softly so Simon and Clary couldn't hear. "If something goes wrong... if something happens to her, that's on us. You know that, don't you?"
"Yeah." Jace nodded.
"Do you?" Alec raised a dark brow at me.
"Please, spare me the lecture." I rolled my eyes at him.
"And you know exactly what'd happen if Valentine gets the Cup before we do. She's lost everything, Alec." Jace reminded him. "I know exactly what that feels like."
"And what's your problem with her, anyway?" I asked my brother.
"Your family always used to welcome strays." Jace commented, referring to himself.
"You were never a stray." Alec shook his head at the blonde's words.
"The point is, nothing's changed." Jace promised him. "We're in this fight together. There's just... one more of us."
"Two." Isabelle corrected as she looked at me.
"Clary," Jace looked over at where Clary and Simon were still standing by the van, gaining their attention. "Come on, it's all clear. Let's go."
With that said the two joined us as we all headed towards the entrance, keeping an eye out for any danger as we went. I couldn't help but feel off as we moved. It was strange, being here with Jace and my siblings, having a seraph blade tucked into my pocket, as well as my stele, and a bow in my hands with a quiver of arrows on my back. It was strange, having been years since I'd been in this position. The last time having nearly killed me.
"You have to understand, the Silent Brothers aren't like us." Jace warned Clary.
"They lack your charm and superior people skills?" Clary scoffed.
"Yeah, most people do." Jace rolled his eyes. "Brothers communicate without using words, using just their thoughts."
"That doesn't sound so bad." Clary shrugged, not knowing the half of it all.
"Don't let their silence fool you." I warned her.
"She's right." Jace agreed. "They'll hold the Soul-Sword to your head, and with its blade, carve the truth from your mind. If you're not strong enough, you will die."
"I take it back." Clary frowned. "That sounds level ten bad."
"Clary, you should know, the pain will be excruciating. You don't have to-" Jace was blunt with her, trying to give her the chance to back out of this. And, I had to admit, there was a part of me hoping that she would, that she would refuse to do this, to protect herself from anymore possible harm.
"I'll do anything." Clary cut him off, crushing any hope I had. "Walk through fire, battle demons, whatever it takes. I have to get my mom back. I can't- I won't lose her."
"You won't." Jace promised her.
"We won't." I amended his statement as he walked off, being replaced with Simon.
"I can do this." Clary said to herself when she spotted the skeleton marking the entrance.
"Yeah, you can." Simon encouraged her. "You're Clary freakin' Fray. You can do anything."
"Hold up." Jace stopped Simon before he could go any further.
"Surprise, surprise. No mundanes allowed, just like the training room, right?" Simon guessed. "Wrong! I've seen every horror movie ever made and the funny best friend who gets left behind... dead man."
"You're not that funny." Jace shrugged. "But by all means, go ahead. Of course, the minute you enter, you'll die."
"Problem is, now I don't trust you." Simon glared at him.
"Simon, he's not lying." I assured him.
"Now." Isabelle clarified. "He was before."
"The rune energy in the City of Bones will kill any mundane who dares to enter, so, please..." Alec gestured for Simon to go ahead, making me glare at him.
"The Brothers creep me out. I'll mind the mundane." Isabelle volunteered.
"Your sacrifice is noted, Izzy." Jace scoffed.
"Talk about sacrifice." Simon said. "I'm missing a financial analysis class."
"So we're helping you right now then," I teased him.
"I can't be here anymore, so, Jace, I'm gonna mind the perimeter." Alec told us before he walked away.
"I don't want to leave you." Clary grabbed Simon's hand.
"Go be a badass Shadowhunter, all right?" Simon told her. "Get your memories back, save your mother. I'll be right here, guarding the entrance to hell."
"Clary, you don't keep the Silent Brothers waiting." Jace spoke up from where he was standing at the entrance.
"Cici," Clary looked at me, silently begging me to come with them.
"I'll only be in the way, Clary." I shook my head. "You can do this, I'll be right out here when you're done."
"You got this." Simon smiled at her before she walked over to Jace, heading into the City of Bones.
"They're getting to be quite the team." Isabelle commented as she walked over to stand between Simon and I. "Amusing."
"Nope." Simon shook his head. "Not really."
*~*~*~*
"So, is cracking someone's mind open supposed to take this long?" Simon asked after we'd been waiting for awhile, longer than he like. "Maybe we, or.. you two should go check?"
"Jace has it covered." Alec said, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Take my word for it." Isabelle assured my nerdy friend. "The Silent Brothers are quite unpleasant."
"That's not helping." Simon shook his head. "Not at all. What if Clary can't handle the Brothers? What does that...."
"It literally never stops talking." Alec muttered.
"Alec," I shot him sharp look before I looked back at Simon. "Clary is fine, Simon. Jace will have her back out here before you know it."
"Is he always so charming?" Simon asked, glancing at Alec.
"Firstborn." Isabelle shrugged. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."
"I feel his pain. Only son." Simon nodded. "Mother wants me to be a CPA."
"And you?" Isabelle raised a brow at him. "What do you want?"
"Me?" Simon looked surprised that she asked. "Um... well, I'm in a band."
"Yeah?" Isabelle smiled at the information. "What type of music? Let me guess. Indie rock?"
"Yeah." Simon nodded.
"Got anything on your phone?" Isabelle asked, clearly flirting with him now. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her actions, knowing that she was just toying around with him, that she wasn't really interested in him.
"I do. We recorded our last set. We killed." Simon nodded. "It's... I left my phone in the van."
"Let's go get it." Isabelle suggested as she started to lead him back the way we had come.
"Where is it going?" Alec asked her.
"We'll be right back." Isabelle assured him. "What? He passes the time."
"I can hear you guys, you know?" Simon pointed out.
"Please, don't leave me alone with him." I whispered to Isabelle, casting a glance at Alec, in no mood to be left alone with him right now, or ever.
"You'll be fine." She gave me a small smile before she walked off with Simon. A sigh escaped me as I looked over at Alec, finding him already watching me, looking at me as though I were a puzzle that needed to be solved.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Well, maybe I should." He frowned at me. "For all I know I could turn around for a minute and it'll be another decade before I see you again."
"Quit being dramatic." I rolled my eyes at him. "It was two years, not ten."
"Yeah, because that makes all the difference." He scoffed. I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could I saw Jace and Clary both coming out, tears running down Clary's face. "What happened? What did you find out?"
"Clary, are you okay?" I walked over to my friend, more concerned about her wellbeing than what they had learned from the Silent Brothers.
"Valentine is Clary's father." Jace informed us, causing my eyes to widen, not having expected that to be what they found out.
"Wait a minute." Alec frowned as I looked back at him to find his gaze locked on Jace. "You're telling me this girl shows up out of nowhere and she's Valentine's daughter? Did it occur to you that she might be a spy? This might be a part of her plan?"
"That's enough, Alec." Jace stopped him. "Remember, Cecile came with her."
"Cecile's been gone for two years." Alec shook his head. "For all we know she left and started working with Valentine."
"Thanks for that vote of confidence big brother." I scoffed.
"Do you think we planned for my mom to get kidnapped?" Clary narrowed her eyes at Alec, not liking what he was accusing us of. "Or- Or for Dot to be taken? Or to have a giant sword dangle over my head and find out that my father is one of the most dangerous people in the world? Really? Where's Simon?"
"He's with Isa-" I cut myself short when I saw my sister rejoining us, Simon nowhere in sight.
"Where's Simon?" Clary asked her.
"I told him to stay in the van." Isabelle shook her head. "I searched everywhere."
"He's gone?" I frowned.
"I can't find him." Isabelle nodded.
"You were supposed to protect him!" Clary yelled at her before she hurried towards the van, looking for our friend herself. "Simon!"
"Simon!" I yelled his name as I followed her.
"Simon?" Clary ran to the open van door, finding it empty. "No, Simon!"
"Is that the mundane's name?" We heard someone call out. We all looked up at the top of the building, finding Simon being held upside down by his ankles. "I'm afraid Simon's coming with us."
"No!" Clary yelled. "No, he's not a part of this!"
"And it'll be my pleasure to kill you unless you return him." Jace threatened as he glared up at he vampire.
"Count me in." I hissed.
"Careful," Alec warned us. "We'd be violating the Accords."
"I'm afraid your sidekick's quite right." The vampire agreed. "The Night Children have broken no laws. We're negotiating. The mundane, unharmed, in exchange for the Mortal Cup. And the clock is ticking. Tick-tock, people."
"Clary! Cici!" Simon yelled before the vampires vanished, with him in tow.